Beginner print at home or use a print company...some help with a Canon Printer

[dee1979]

I am just starting out in the world of photography and wish to sell a few macro style prints next year. I mentioned in another post that I create little indoor scenes on a table combining tiny HO scale figures (approx 20mm tall). I have a Canon Pixma iX680 and currently use Marrutt matt paper for my art work prints which do a very decent job. For some reason I've had an issue with some inks bleeding in areas whenever I use most print settings. The only suitable option without any bleed is using the gloss paper setting when printing on Marutt matt and the print out is fine. I'm not sure if it's the printer or paper but the fact it prints fine on this setting is the main thing. I feel that matt paper might not be the most suitable for the project explained and have read good reviews on Marrutt Oyster/Satin? Can anyone give any feedback on this paper and would it be any better suited for my requirements?

Secondly, is it worthwhile printing at home or do more people now outsource their work to printing companies? I'd like to possibly also offer frames and have heard some companies will print and frame for clients and then send out to customers but I can't find many offering this service in the UK.

If anyone can give some guidance it would be appreciated.

 

[KIPAX]

DEPENDS on your printer.. If I had a Dye Sub printer I would do it all at home.. but no way on an inkjet... better sending off ..

 

[Craikeybaby]

Another vote for sending it off.

I use my local lab - One Vision Imaging, who also offer a lot of framing options.

 

[Don Fischer]

I print all my own photo's but, don't make any effort to sell any yet. I think the prints I get from my Canon 9000 MK II are really nice but I am a bit prejudice! I've also been making my own frames for over 30yrs now. Use old wood I get for free and old barn wood and fence rails. Recently got a bunch of old picket fence pickets and really like them. had all the tools going in so was quite a bit easier.

Wood from garbage pile on a re-model job site.

Old fence pickets.

Did some looking into it recently and found on the internet where it cost's about .04 cents per sq inch to print your own! Use Red River Luster paper and seems it runs me something like $1.26 for a 13x19 sheet. Also have Red River Luster paper in a 24"x100' roll I print up to 12x24 inch photo's on. The thing lacking is I'm not all that sure I can sell them. I like them but I get them pretty inexpensively! The business side of me is lacking!

Photo from several years ago of my old highway truck.

 

[jamesianbriggs]

I love the idea of making frames. Do you have any recommendations for sites, books or whatever to help me get started?

 

[Harlequin565]

is it worthwhile printing at home or do more people now outsource their work to printing companies

Difficult one to answer as it depends on your pitch to your customers and how you value your work.

If you're advertising (and pricing) your work as something of quality, getting prints on decent paper is worthwhile. If you're using archival paper, concerned about reproduction quality, and selling quite a few prints, it's probably cost effective to DIY. Labs charge quite a bit more to print on decent archival "fine art" paper.

If you're not really promoting print quality/archival capability, then getting someone else to fulfill is by far cheaper and easier. Also, if you're selling multiple prints per day, then the someone else route will make life much less hassle.

I like to be able to say that the work is mine from start to finish. I like to include a personal touch to the print. I like to be able to say that the paper I use is part of the process for me, and why I use it.

Marrutt papers are adequate at best. Archival Matt being their "most" adequate paper. My top 4 matt papers would be St Cuthbert's Mill "Somerset Photo Satin", Permajet's "Photo Art Silk", Fotospeed's "Platinum Etching" and Hahnemule's "German Etching". If cost is a concern, the Fotospeed paper is really good value for money (IMO of course!), but if you put a gun to my head, the Somerset paper would win out*.

*This is based on my experience, of my images on my printer, with my ICC profiles, and my preferences of image quality/coloour balance. Your mileage may very well vary!!

 

[Harlequin565]

Additional reply to note I haven't tested any Oyster papers from Marrutt. Perhaps their range has changed?

 

[Don Fischer]

I love the idea of making frames. Do you have any recommendations for sites, books or whatever to help me get started?

I am self taught. Doesn't seem like many people on internet sites get into making their own and those that do buy commercial frame molding. I just fumbled around till I found something I liked. But, everything starts with a piece of wood min 3/4" thick and about 1 1/4"+ wide.

 

[jamesianbriggs]

I am self taught. Doesn't seem like many people on internet sites get into making their own and those that do buy commercial frame molding. I just fumbled around till I found something I liked. But, everything starts with a piece of wood min 3/4" thick and about 1 1/4"+ wide.

Thanks. Will give it a go. I have a bandsaw (and a lathe, not that it would be much use) but assume you need some specialist tools to cut the rebate for tha glass and clamp things square.

 

[Don Fischer]

Thanks. Will give it a go. I have a bandsaw (and a lathe, not that it would be much use) but assume you need some specialist tools to cut the rebate for tha glass and clamp things square.

Actually I cut the rebate for the glass on my table saw. Don't have the right router blade any more. also have a bench planer, Router table, 12" power miter saw and different electric hand tools. Oh, necessary to me is in 18ga power nailer. Cut the wood to size first on the table saw. Cut a bit big then run it through the bench planer to size, Next router edges sometimes only one edge. Then cut the relief for the glass If it's a double frame before cutting to length I cut both frames and glue them in place, then cut the corners. Might sound like a lot but moves along pretty quick usually. What slows me down is fixing splits and loose knots. Really like making frames as much as getting the photo's!.

 

[droj]

Here as food for thought is an example of what might be done, starting in this case from sawn wood. The first is native ash & the second native brown oak. I apply a thin coat of clear finish afterwards so the wood grain and jointing can be seen. Generally, even if the stock is bought in ready-prepared, issues might be (1) cutting accurate mitres & (2) clamping them firmly whilst joining (even if pinned joints are used).

I use 2mm glass and cut the picture mounts from acid-free mountboard.

 

[wiltw]

My choice is to send out, IF I know the print will be optically exposed chemically processed rather than sprayed ink!